Saturday, May 14, 2005

Qalibaf pledges to develop Lorestan: "Qalibaf pledges to develop Lorestan
TEHRAN, May 14 (MNA) – “If I am honored to serve the people as president, I will commit myself to take special measures for the sake of Lorestan Province,” former national police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told a gathering of people in Aligudarz, Lorestan Province on Saturday.
The bravery of the province’s nomads during the Constitutional Revolution, the Islamic Revolution, and the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war will never be forgotten, he added.

The conservative presidential candidate said that Lorestan Province is much less developed than most other provinces, although, considering its accomplishments, it deserves much more.

He also mentioned some national problems such as unemployment, inflation, and injustice.

Due to its skilled workforce, Iran has great economic potential, which can be realized through efficient management, Qalibaf observed.

Karrubi calls universities key element of 20-year Outlook Plan

Reformist presidential candidate Mahdi Karrubi said on Saturday that the 20-year Outlook Plan envisions Iran becoming the most powerful country in the region, so preparatory measures should be taken to achieve this goal.

Speaking to the Mehr News Agency correspondent in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province during a campaign trip, the former Majlis speaker stated that developing the universities and increasing the level of knowledge in various fields are some of the most important steps that must be taken.

Karrubi said that piety and honesty would be his main criteria in choosing cabinet members, adding that the ministers must also be competent, professional, and sophisticated.

Moin reaffirms allegiance to Constitution

“The Constitution is a national accord that embraces all the principle rights of the people, and so, as a presidential candidate, I hereby honestly announce my allegiance to the Constitution, which I will enforce if I am elected president. However, this does not mean that I have no objection to the Constitution. It has some vague points, and there is no harmony between the president’s scope of authorities and his responsibilities,” reformist presidential candidate Mostafa Moin said here on Saturday.

In a meeting with members of the Office to Foster Unity (OFU), the former minister of science, research and technology called world public opinion the second superpower after the United States and said that efforts must be made to increase the people’s level of knowledge and awareness.

In conclusion, he said that if his competency and qualifications for the presidency were rejected, he would not participate in the presidential election, just as he had not participated in the 2004 parliamentary elections, but added that he would not encourage people to boycott the election.

I am a child of the Islamic Revolution and servant of the people: Ahmadinejad

“Believing in the righteousness and the mission of the Islamic Revolution, as well as the efficiency of the Iranian nation is a necessity to lay the groundwork for a global government,” conservative presidential candidate Mahmud Ahmadinejad said here on Saturday.

“I am a child of the Islamic Revolution and a servant of the people, and so I am ready to stand against any enemy who threatens our nation and revolution,” the Tehran mayor added."